HEY GUYS!

The sequel finally has it's first chapter up, and I'm so happy you guys liked the way I ended the last story.

Except, I suppose, Urazz.

Now, Urazz, I have to address you like this because either you don't have a fanfiction profile or because you don't want to log in to critique me.

First of all, Urazz, the only reason a couple wouldn't be able to have a baby is if one or both of them were infertile. If both of them are capable of having children, no matter how difficult it might be, it CAN BE DONE. It's just incredibly unlikely, which is addressed in my next point.

Second, Morrigan used an ancient blood magic ritual. How else would she definitely become pregnant after one night with a Grey Warden?

If you want to continue to argue with/question my decision, create an account or log in so you can pm me.

But, as always, I respect when my readers let me know when they don't think something is plausible, and I appreciate you giving your opinion.

So, this first chapter is just to get warmed up. I'm not sure how much I'm going to put into this story, but it definitely won't be as long as Against All Odds.

Enjoy! OR ELSE. :P

Mhairi

When Mhairi leads the Hero of Ferelden to Vigil's Keep, surprisingly, he is not alone.

Strange. Mhairi was never told about another recruit or Grey Warden.

The woman he brings is a pretty elf, her stomach large and heavy with child. At her heels is a beautiful purebred mabari. The hero treats her with utmost care.

His lover, then?

This is the only guess Mhairi has, though they never show each other romantic affection, at least not on their way to the Keep.

As they travel, the elf keeps her hood up to hide her face. And though they walk quite the distance, she doesn't seem to have any trouble.

When they reach the Keep, it's dark. Possibly about to rain. The roads leading up to it are quiet, and this, Mhairi will admit, is strange.

Then the lone man comes running up the road.

Darkspawn on his tail.

Mhairi puts herself between them and the Hero's traveling companion, only to realize that the elf has stepped up, throwing back her hood and lifting her hands as if to shoo the darkspawn away.

For a split second, Mhairi wonders if she's crazy.

Then lightning flows from her outstretched hands.

A hazy red aura begins to flow around her, and as she watches, the darkspawn fall one by one.

Just who is this elf?

And why is she so good at fighting these creatures?

Daylen

Sneaking out of Denerim with Avina is almost too easy.

It's ridiculous, really. Avina is almost an outlaw; there's practically a bounty on her head. Each guard knows he'll be paid handsomely if they find her and bring her back.

Daylen doesn't know why his Majesty is trying so hard.

But it doesn't matter. What matters is getting Avina to Amaranthine.

He can always use an extra Warden.

He just doesn't know how true that is until they reach the Keep.

Apparently, the months that Avina went missing, she wasn't wasting time.

Now, she faces the darkspawn as a master of blood mana, sucking the life force right out of any enemy with blood.

Daylen isn't too proud to say that if he faced her now, she would obliterate him.

Even when the darkspawn are definitely dead, the poor lad who ran out to meet them hits the corpses repeatedly with his mace, as if they'll get back up if he doesn't make them dead enough.

Shaking, his gaze darts up to Daylen. "It's you! The hero of Ferelden! Oh, thank the Maker!" He cries.

"How did this happen?" Daylen demands.

The man looks near tears as he shrugs frantically. "I don't know! They came out of nowhere! All I heard were screams and people dying; I got out as fast as I could and ran into these..." he gestures to the dead darkspawn. "You have to help them. You have to do something!"

Avina grabs him by the shoulders to steady him. "It's alright, now," she says soothingly. "We're here to help. What we need you to do now is find a patrol, and have them sent help, okay?"

The man takes a deep breath. "Okay. I'll run to Amaranthine. There has to be a patrol on the road."

He takes off down the road, and Mhairi turns to Daylen.

"We don't have a lot of time, Commander."

Avina crosses her arms. "A sneak attack? From darkspawn? I didn't think stealth was one of their strong points."

"This isn't a Blight," Mhairi protests. "How could they be so organized? I don't understand."

Daylen shrugs. "Perhaps something else is leading them."

To him, a darkspawn is a darkspawn. It doesn't matter to him what is leading them.

He'll be killing them either way.

Mhairi shakes her head in disbelief. "Other than an archdemon, you mean? Frightening thought."

"Let's just get moving," he says dismissively.

Mhairi nods. "Right! Let's teach these evil bastards a lesson."

The courtyard is, unsurprisingly, full of darkspawn.

Daylen almost forgot how much he missed fighting at Avina's side. They were greatly matched, almost able to read each others' minds.

Mhairi can't stop staring at her, as if trying to puzzle her out. Daylen doesn't blame her; it's not every day you see a pregnant blood mage.

But, dear Maker, Daylen can say that after this, he doesn't want to meet another. It might be hazardous to his health.

The surviving soldiers are incredibly lucky she is here.

"We're running out of bandages," the guard they found tells them. "There are bandages on the other side of the Keep. Bring bandages, quickly!"

Avina just fixes him with a glare. "Bandages are for those without healers on hand," she snaps, and glances back at Daylen. "Move on into the Keep. I'll catch up."

Daylen nods, leaving her with the wounded. At least she'll be safe.

Avina

Avina is not having a good day.

Why? There are several reasons.

First, and foremost, she's hungry, but the Keep is being overrun so she doesn't have the time to find the cow that she'd like to kill and eat.

Second, she has a headache, on top of the constant back and feet pains she's been having.

Third, the darkspawn attack.

Oh, yes, the darkspawn are bad, sneak attacks are bad, so this is bad, but after the Blight, Avina has gotten over it. Darkspawn are not monsters anymore; they're an irritation.

Maker knows how many she's killed already. Maybe she should start keeping score.

She also needs new boots, but that complaint can wait.

She didn't lie when she told Daylen she'd catch up. She does, and faster than they expected. She is with them when they head into the cell area.

There's a blast of sound, along with a wave of heat that can only mean one thing.

Mage.

As they watch, the man before them roasts a darkspawn until it falls into a pile of other darkspawn and templars, then shaking his hands as if they're hot.

He turns to look at them sheepishly. "Uh... I didn't do it."

Avina's eyes narrow. "Anders?" She blurts. "Is that really you?"

Oh yes, she remembers him.

Surprised to hear his name, he glances over at Avina curiously.

"Do I know you?" He replies. Then he recognizes her. "Wait, you're... I do remember you."

Avina crosses her arms over her chest. "So, you managed to escape again, I see?"

Anders chuckles. "That I have. Unfortunately, I was caught again. These templars were taking me back to the tower when the darkspawn attacked. Though I'm not broken up about them dying; Biff there made the funniest gurgle when he went down."

Mhairi looks confused. "You're an apostate? At Vigil's Keep?"

Looking Mhairi over, a sly smirk slides into place on Anders's face. A smirk that Avina has seen before, and been on the receiving end of.

"You weren't here when we arrived," he notes. "I'm sure I would have remembered such a lovely woman as yourself."

Avina sighs. "You're still a charmer, I see."

Daylen grins. "Did you just kill all these darkspawn yourself?"

Anders nods. "Well, they helped," he says, looking towards the dead templars. "Before they tragically died. Look, I suppose I could help you with the rest of these darkspaawn... or you could just let me go. They'll send more templars to find me eventually. They always do."

Daylen laughs quietly. "Yes, we could definitely use some help."

"Then you have it," Anders confirms. "I can't say I'm fond of these darkspawn, even though I'm no Grey Warden. Let's deal with them now, and we can discuss what happens later... later.

Anders is just as good of a healer as she remembers. It's good to know that his skill hasn't faded with time outside the Circle.

And it is a bit faster, having Anders along as the move from room to room, helping the servants to safety and killing darkspawn.

Sometimes they can hear fighting before they even enter a room.

But this time, they hear the crunch of something hitting something metal forcefully, a darkspawn's deep chuckle, and then...

BELCH. "C'mere, ya nug humpers!"

A grin spreads across Avina's face before she can stop herself. "Please tell me this is what I think it is," she murmurs as the door opens.

They charge in to see exactly what she expected.

Oghren, in all his glory, the darkspawn surrounding him seeming too hesitant to approach him. The ones stupid enough to come closer are nearly cleaved right in half by his battleaxe. They growl, and he growls back.

His head turns at the sound of the door opening, and he waves at the two familiar faces before turning back to the enemy.

They make short work of the remaining darkspawn in the room; just like old times.

Oghren pulls his axe out of a dead hurlock. "A-ha!" He says triumphantly. "There you are! When these darkspawn showed up, I thought, 'just you wait until the new commander gets here and you'll all be spitting teeth out of your arses! Followed the screaming, and sure enough, here you two are. Good on ya!"

Daylen and Avina speak up at the same time, Daylen's voice a confused, "Oghren?" While Avina's is a more excited, "Oghren!"

The dwarf chuckles. "Doubting your eyes, huh? I get like that, after the fifth bottle or so. Came here thinking I might try my hand at becoming a bona fide Grey Warden," he explains.

Mhairi makes a disgusted face. "He was here when I left. I can't believe the Wardens didn't kick him out."

Oghren's eyes drift over to her. "Hey! If it isn't the recruit with the great rack!"

Mhairi's frown deepens. "Yes. A prize for the Wardens, to be sure."

"I know, I know," Oghren says, scratching underneath his beard. "Too good to be true, right?" His gaze lands on Anders. "Hey... who's the mage? Boyfriend?" He winks at Mhairi. "Should I leave you two alone?"

Anders pretends to look surprised. "Wow. A dwarf that smells like a brewery. You never see that anywhere."

Oghren merely mimics his expression. "Huh. A mage comedian. Thought those usually died young."

Avina laughs, one hand going to her belly. "It's good to see you again," she tells him.

Anders raises an eyebrow. "I find that hard to believe."

"As do I," Mhairi adds.

"Now," Oghren booms. "Let's go introduce some darkspawn arses to my foot. Only polite thing to do."